Traduza\\ MTV: 'Headbangers Ball' Will Continue As Online Destination Without JOSE MANGIN

A spokesperson for MTV has denied a claim by current "Headbangers Ball" host Jose Mangin (pictured below) that the Viacom Inc.-owned cable channel is pulling the plug on the show because it no longer supports heavy metal.

In a recent interview with Horns Up Rocks!, Mangin revealed that the decision to kill the currently web-only series wasn't about saving money. "Right now, it doesn't really cost [MTV] anything, 'cause I do it. I host it, produce it, edit it . . . all myself," he said. "But I guess it's just the odd man out of their lineup. They do a lot of hip-hop, and they support that music fully. They used to support rock."

He continued: "Some day, somebody will be there and they'll be, like, 'Why aren't we doing something with rock music?' Somebody will some day say that. But in the meantime, I've been honored to do it for four years. Just to say those words . . . means a lot for me, 'cause since I was a little kid, that was my show."

In response, MTV released the following statement to SPIN: "MTV is committed to the 'Headbangers Ball' franchise and can confirm that it will continue as an online destination with its hub remaining on MTV2.com. The company's deal with Jose Mangin has concluded. However, MTV will continue to program a weekly playlist for fans of the genre."

Mangin, who took over as the official "Ball" host in July 2011, is planning to launch a new show called "Hard Attack TV", which he says will be "an extension of 'Headbangers Ball'."

"Headbangers Ball" began on MTV on April 18, 1987, playing heavy metal and hard rock music videos late at night, from both well-known and more obscure artists. The show offered (and became famous because of) a stark contrast to Top 40 music videos shown during the day.

However, with the mainstream rise of alternative rock and rap music in the 1990s, the relevance of "Headbangers Ball" came into question, and the show was ultimately canceled in 1995. Over eight years later, as new genres of heavy metal were gaining a commercial foothold and fan interest became unavoidable, the program was reintroduced on MTV2. It has remained in varying degrees on the network.

SEFOTEU\\ MTV Pulling Plug On Web-Only Version Of 'Headbangers Ball'

MTV.com is pulling the plug on its web-only show "Headbangers Ball", the program's host and producer, Jose Mangin, revealed to Horns Up Rocks!

Jose, who also works as a program director/DJ on SiriusXM Octane and Liquid Metal, says that the decision to end "Headbangers Ball" was not a cost-cutting move. "Right now, it doesn't really cost [MTV] anything, 'cause I do it — I host it, produce it, edit it and do it all myself," he said. "But I guess it's just the odd man out of their lineup."

He continued, "They do a lot of hip hop, and they support that music fully. They used to support rock.

"Some day, somebody will be there and they'll be, like, 'Why aren't we doing something with rock music?' Somebody will some day that. But in the meantime, I've been honored to do it for four years, to be with it, involved with special events, and then since I took it over, producing and doing programming. Just to say those words together in one sentence, or even just by themselves, meant a lot for me, 'cause since I was a little kid, that was my show that introduced me to wanting to bring metal to the masses."

Mangin, who took over as the official "Ball" host in July 2011, is planning to launch a new show called "Hard Attack TV", which he says will be "an extension of 'Headbangers Ball'. . . [It's] just gonna be the same stuff that I'm doing, but I wanna do some more live stuff, maybe do some cool stuff from the 'Man Cave' [Jose's basement-turned-studio], concerts, taco sessions and stuff like that, interviews, get involved and get people involved and maybe get an 800 number and do something cool where I can talk to the fans and just talk to people, whether it's online or just do something cool."

"Headbangers Ball" began on MTV on April 18, 1987, playing heavy metal and hard rock music videos late at night, from both well-known and more obscure artists. The show offered (and became famous because of) a stark contrast to Top 40 music videos shown during the day.

However, with the mainstream rise of alternative rock and rap music in the 1990s, the relevance of "Headbangers Ball" came into question, and the show was ultimately canceled in 1995. Over eight years later, as new genres of heavy metal were gaining a commercial foothold and fan interest became unavoidable, the program was reintroduced on MTV2. It has remained in varying degrees on the network.

Many of the videos that aired on the first incarnation of the series would find a home on the similarly themed "Metal Mania" on sister channel VH1 Classic.

Traduza\\ 'Headbangers Ball: The Year In Metal': Entire Episode Posted Online

For more than twenty years, thrashers have tuned in to the "Headbangers Ball" and on December 18, MTV2 once again honored the biggest tours, craziest stories and top metal releases of the year with the "Headbangers Ball: The Year in Metal". The half-hour special, which kicked off at midnight, was hosted by national radio personality José Mangin. The can't-miss half-hour special presentation featured some of the biggest names in metal, including ANTHRAX, Max Cavalera, IN THIS MOMENT, OZZY OSBOURNE bassist Rob "Blasko" Nicholson and editors from Revolver and Decibel magazines, who were all on hand to look back at 2010's defining moments of metal. If that wasn't enough, the show also provided viewers with VIP access to an exclusive performance from Brooklyn's own LIFE OF AGONY.

The entire episode has now been posted online and can be viewed below. (Note: Video stream may not be available to some non-U.S. residents.)

José Mangin, who is described in a press release as "one of the most passionate and knowledgeable metalheads on the planet," started his career in radio in Arizona as Metal Director for the University of Arizona's college radio station in Tucson. While attending Pharmacy graduate school in Memphis, he landed a job in radio and ended up choosing a life of rock 'n' roll over medicine. In 2000 José moved to New York City and began his job as a national radio Program Director and on-air personality.

"It's been a lifelong goal and dream to be a part of the holy 'Headbangers Ball', a show that gave me my metal wings when I was a little kid," said Mangin. "I'm far beyond honored to be hosting 2010's 'Year in Metal' special with a team that dominates and has the same goal I do — to infect the world with heavy metal music! As our godfather Ozzy Osbourne always says… 'Let's go f'in CRAZY!!!'"

Since 1987, "Headbangers Ball" has been the heshest and gnarliest horror show on air and online. There's a ton different kinds of metal — from black metal and death metal to industrial metal and speed metal and everything in between — and they're all on "Headbangers Ball". On top of ripping through the most absurdly, obscenely raw and perverse videos in the history of darkness, "Headbangers Ball" also goes one-on-one with the bands, drawing out the secrets of their sinister worlds.